Increased pulmonary clearance of aerosolized 99Tcm-DTPA in patients with a subset of stage I sarcoidosis

Measurement of the pulmonary clearance of aerosolized 99Tcm-diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (99Tcm-DTPA) as a marker of pulmonary parenchymal damage was performed in 10 non-smokers with sarcoidosis, none of whom was on medication, and the results compared with 12 normal controls. Posterior images were obtained using a single-headed gamma camera, with the subjects in a supine position, for 30 min after inhalation of aerosolized 99Tcm-DTPA had ceased. The pulmonary clearance of 99Tcm-DTPA was significantly increased in the sarcoidosis patients (57.6 +/- 22.1 min in the right lung, 62.2 +/- 22.7 min in the left lung) compared with the controls (79.3 +/- 10.2 and 78.4 +/- 7.7 min in the right and left lungs, respectively) (P < 0.05). Six of the 10 patients with sarcoidosis showed levels of pulmonary clearance, in both the right and left lungs, below the 95.5% confidence limit (mean +/- 2 S.D.) for the controls. Increased pulmonary clearance of 99Tcm-DTPA was also found in 2 of 4 patients with stage I sarcoidosis. No relationship was found between the pulmonary clearance of 99Tcm-DPTA and inflammatory markers (ACE, lysozyme) in the serum.

Activation of Fes tyrosine kinase by gp130, an interleukin-6 family cytokine signal transducer, and their association

gp130 is a signal-transducing subunit of receptors for the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-related cytokine subfamily including IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, IL-11, and ciliary neurotrophic factor, indicating that gp130-mediated signals are involved in the immune response, hematopoiesis, inflammation, and endocrine and nervous system activity. We previously showed that gp130 stimulation rapidly activates Jak, Btk, and Tec tyrosine kinases, all of which constitutively associate with gp130. To further elucidate intracellular signal transduction through gp130, we examined the possible involvement of another nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, p92c-fes (Fes). We showed that gp130 stimulation rapidly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Fes and actually activated its kinase activity in hematopoietic lineage cells. Furthermore, Fes associated with gp130 independently of ligand stimulation like Jak, Btk, and Tec tyrosine kinases. These results indicate that multiple nonreceptor tyrosine kinases are involved in the gp130-mediated signal transduction pathway. Because both gp130 and Fes are expressed not only in hematopoietic lineage cells but also in heart and nerve cells, Fes may play a role in signal transduction through gp130 in these tissues.

[Clinical evaluation of safety, pharmacokinetics and dosimetry of the somatostatin analog 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-octreotide--report of the phase 1 study]

The safety, pharmacokinetics and dosimetry of the somatostatin analog 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-octreotide (111In-octreotide) were investigated in four young normal volunteers as phase 1 study in Japan. Neither adverse reactions nor significant changes of vital signs and clinical laboratory data were observed after intravenous injection of 111 MBq of 111In octreotide. The plasma clearance curve consisted of fast and slow exponential components with mean half life of 9.2 minutes and 2.2 hours, respectively. Seventy three percent of the injected dose were excreted in the urine by 24 hours after the injection of 111In-octreotide. With respect to the radiation dose to normal tissue, the most important organs were the urinary bladder, the kidney, the spleen and the liver. The effective dose equivalent was calculated as 3.26 +/- 0.43 mSv/37 MBq (mean +/- s.d.). This phase 1 study demonstrated the safety of scintigraphy with 111In-octreotide.

[The uptake of nalidixic acid and enoxacin by rat renal cortical slices in rat]

The mechanisms involved in the renal excretion of quinolone and new quinolone antibacterial drugs are still incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the renal handling of nalidixic acid (NA) and enoxacin (ENX), using the renal cortical slices uptake techniques in rats. It was demonstrated that both NA and ENX were taken against a concentration gradient by a saturable processes resulting from the ratio of slice to medium (ratio of S/M) being dependent on the time and the concentration. It was indicated that the inhibition of uptake by 2,4-dinitrophenol, ouabain and sodium cyanate was shown to be an energy dependence. Probenecid and cimetidine exhibited that they might inhibit NA uptake slightly. ENX uptake was inhibited by probenecid, cimetidine, guanidine and disopyramide, suggesting that ENX might possess an affinity for both anionic and cationic transport mechanisms.

Effects of feeding, fasting, background adaptation, acute stress, and exhaustive exercise on the plasma somatolactin concentrations in rainbow trout

Plasma somatolactin (SL) concentrations in rainbow trout were examined under various physiological and environmental conditions. Background adaptation and feeding did not affect plasma SL levels. There was no consistent change in plasma SL levels during fasting for 21 days, although increased plasma growth hormone levels and decreased condition factor, hepatosomatic index and abdominal fat, occurred. Plasma SL concentrations increased during acute stress and also during exhaustive exercise resulting from being chased in shallow water. Elevation of plasma SL was associated with those of plasma cortisol, Ca2+, phosphate, and glucose levels. On the other hand, plasma level of prolactin was not affected in the stress and exercise experiments, although plasma GH and Na+ were raised in the fish 5 min after the onset of the stress. Our results suggest the involvement of SL in calcium and phosphate metabolism, acid-base regulation, or energy mobilization in the stressed or exercised trout.

[Recent advances in ovarian cancer chemotherapy from the survival standpoint]

The following consensus has been reached over the last two decades from clinical research: 1) Single nonplatinum agents or nonplatinum combinations have failed to demonstrate a significantly longer median survival. 2) Platinum combinations are generally better than single-agent platinum when platinum is used at the same dose. 3) Cisplatin-based chemotherapy produced a substantial clinical improvement as indicated by increased response rate duration of response and time to progression, but the overall effect on survival has been modest. The higher doses of cisplatin, ranging from 12.5 to 50 mg/sm/week, have demonstrated a general trend for prolonged median survival. But a more escalated dose of platinum supported by PBSCT is an investigational setting to ensure the advantage for overall survival in the near future. This consensus has been achieved from analysis of clinical trials in Europe and the United States for ovarian cancer chemotherapy, but only a few Japanese clinical trials have showed a similar tendency in the manner of retrospective studies. Six cycles of chemotherapy of cisplatin/cyclophosphamide or carboplatin/cyclophosphamide have become the standard and yield clinical response rates of approximately 60-70% and 5-year survival of 15-25 percent for advanced ovarian cancer. Taxol is thought to be the next promising candidate for cisplatin combination and secondary chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. It augurs to improve the overall survival. We look forward to early use of taxol in Japan at the clinical level.

Impairment of motor coordination, Purkinje cell synapse formation, and cerebellar long-term depression in GluR delta 2 mutant mice

Of the six glutamate receptor (GluR) channel subunit families identified by molecular cloning, five have been shown to constitute either the AMPA, kainate, or NMDA receptor channel, whereas the function of the delta subunit family remains unknown. The selective localization of the delta 2 subunit of the GluR delta subfamily in cerebellar Purkinje cells prompted us to examine its possible physiological roles by the gene targeting technique. Analyses of the GluR delta 2 mutant mice reveal that the delta 2 subunit plays important roles in motor coordination, formation of parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses and climbing fiber-Purkinje cell synapses, and long-term depression of parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synaptic transmission. These results suggest a close relationship between synaptic plasticity and synapse formation in the cerebellum.

Xklp1, a chromosomal Xenopus kinesin-like protein essential for spindle organization and chromosome positioning

Xklp1 is a novel Xenopus kinesin-like protein with a motor domain at the amino terminus, nuclear localization sequences in the stalk, and a putative zinc finger-like sequence in the tail. It is nuclear during interphase and chromosomal during mitosis. During late anaphase, a fraction of the protein relocalizes to the spindle interzone and accumulates in the midbody during telophase. Depletion of Xklp1 protein by antisense oligo knockout in oocytes leads to defective mitosis during the first cell cycles following fertilization. The bipolarity of spindles assembled in vitro in the presence of anti-Xklp1 antibodies is unstable, and the chromosomes fail to congress on the metaphase plate.

Cromakalim suppresses hypertonic saline-induced renal vasoconstriction in anaesthetized dogs

1. Intrarenal arterial infusion of hypertonic saline (HS) transiently increased and then gradually reduced renal blood flow (RBF) in anaesthetized dogs. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) but not filtration fraction decreased at the end of the infusion. 2. In the presence of a potassium channel opener cromakalim (0.3 microgram/kg per min), HS infusion failed to reduce RBF; the initial increase in RBF was maintained throughout the infusion. Since cromakalim also prevented the decrease in GFR, HS infusion lowered filtration fraction. 3. The results suggest that cromakalim inhibits both pre-and postglomerular vasoconstriction induced by HS infusion.

Gramicidin as a potential immunosuppressant for organ transplantation: suppression of human lymphocyte blastogenesis in vitro and prolongation of heart allograft survival in the rat

Linear polypeptide antibiotic gramicidin is known to interact with the cell membrane and deregulate cation exchange. Because perturbation of cell membrane function may suppress the immune cell network, the authors investigated the effects of gramicidin on lymphocyte blastogenesis in vitro and allograft survival in vivo. Gramicidin blocked blastogenesis of human peripheral blood lymphocytes that responded to mitogens (IC50 = 0.2-10.1 ng/ml) or allogeneic lymphocytes (IC50 = 4.9 ng/ml). The extent of these suppressive effects was equal to or superior to that of cyclosporine or prednisolone. The antibiotic caused no apparent cytotoxicity at a dose of 10,000 ng/ml. The suppression of lymphocyte blastogenesis in vitro by cyclosporine or prednisolone was restored by addition of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 or IL-6. In contrast, none of these cytokines affected the suppressive activity of gramicidin on lymphocyte blastogenesis. The immunosuppressive efficacy of gramicidin was further examined in vivo in heterotopically heart-transplanted rats. A heart graft from (Lewis x BN) F1 donor was implanted in the neck of allogeneic Lewis rats. In this model, beating of the graft in control recipients (placebo group) stopped as a result of acute allograft rejection at 5.4 +/- 0.4 days after transplantation (n = 38), whereas beating of the graft in recipients that received 2.0 or 4.0 mg kg-1 day-1 of gramicidin i.p. for 6 days was significantly prolonged to 15.4 +/- 4.3 (n = 5) or 18.4 +/- 3.9 (n = 5) days after transplantation, respectively (P < .001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Negative-ion fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry for characterization of sulfated unsaturated disaccharides from heparin and heparan sulfate

Negative-ion fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry has been used in the characterization of non-, mono-, di- and trisulfated disaccharides from heparin and heparan sulfate. The positional isomers of the sulfate group of monosulfated disaccharides were distinguished from each other by negative-ion fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectra, which provide an easy way of identifying the positional isomers. This fast atom bombardment collision induced dissociation mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry technique was also applied successfully to the characterization of di- and trisulfated disaccharides.

Changes in plasma somatolactin levels during spawning migration of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)

Plasma somatolactin (SL) concentrations were examined in chum salmon in relation to gonadal maturation; immature salmon in the Bering Sea at various stages of maturation, and mature salmon during upstream migration caught at the ocean, bay and river. Plasma SL concentrations as well as plasma prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) levels in the immature fish caught in the Bering Sea were maintained essentially at similar levels. Plasma SL in mature salmon increased significantly from the fish in the ocean to the fish in the river in both sexes. Although all the fish had fully developed gonads, females completed ovulation while still in the bay, whereas final spermeation in males was achieved after entry into the river. Thus, no clear correlation was seen between plasma SL levels and final gonadal maturation. On the other hand, plasma PRL concentrations in both male and female fish were higher in the fish in the river than those in the ocean and bay, and plasma GH levels were higher in both sexes in the fish in the bay and river than those in the ocean. Plasma levels of triglycerides, glucose, free fatty acids and ionized sodium and calcium were also examined. Significant-negative correlations were seen between plasma SL and plasma ionized calcium in mature male salmon, and between plasma SL and plasma triglycerides in mature female salmon. Although our findings do not rule out the possibility of the involvement of SL in final maturation, the results indicate that SL seems to be involved at least in energy and/or calcium metabolism during the spawning migration.

Anti-IL-4 antibody prevents graft-versus-host disease in mice after bone marrow transplantation. The IgE allotype is an important marker of graft-versus-host disease

Induction of a graft-vs-host reaction in irradiated (BALB/c X C57BL/6)F1 mice (CBF1 mice) with bone marrow cells (BMC) plus spleen cells of BALB/c mice leads to bone marrow transplantation--GVHD (BMT-GVHD). BMT-GVHD is characterized by liver disease, splenomegaly, and hypergammopathy. In addition, we found that increased serum IgE and IgG1 levels were correlated with BMT-GVHD such as liver disease and splenomegaly. The allotype of increased IgE levels in BMT-GVHD was IgEa of donor origin, not IgEb of host origin. We also found that in the thymus of murine BMT-GVHD, the CD4+ CD8+ double-positive T cells were decreased, but the CD4+ CD8- or CD4- CD8+ single-positive T cells were increased. Interestingly, double-positive T cells appeared in the spleen, suggesting that abnormal T cell differentiation existed in murine BMT-GVHD. When the recipients were treated with anti-IL-4 Ab (11B11), the increase of IgE and IgG1 was markedly reduced and liver disease and splenomegaly were also prevented. Moreover, abnormal T cell differentiation and maturation were suppressed. These observations suggest that IL-4 plays an important role in immunoregulation or pathogenesis of allogeneic effects, and 11B11 prevents immunodysfunction including T cell differentiation in the thymus or the spleen and autoimmune symptoms in murine BMT-GVHD.

Anti-IL-4 antibody prevents graft-versus-host disease in mice after bone marrow transplantation. The IgE allotype is an important marker of graft-versus-host disease

Induction of a graft-vs-host reaction in irradiated (BALB/c X C57BL/6)F1 mice (CBF1 mice) with bone marrow cells (BMC) plus spleen cells of BALB/c mice leads to bone marrow transplantation--GVHD (BMT-GVHD). BMT-GVHD is characterized by liver disease, splenomegaly, and hypergammopathy. In addition, we found that increased serum IgE and IgG1 levels were correlated with BMT-GVHD such as liver disease and splenomegaly. The allotype of increased IgE levels in BMT-GVHD was IgEa of donor origin, not IgEb of host origin. We also found that in the thymus of murine BMT-GVHD, the CD4+ CD8+ double-positive T cells were decreased, but the CD4+ CD8- or CD4- CD8+ single-positive T cells were increased. Interestingly, double-positive T cells appeared in the spleen, suggesting that abnormal T cell differentiation existed in murine BMT-GVHD. When the recipients were treated with anti-IL-4 Ab (11B11), the increase of IgE and IgG1 was markedly reduced and liver disease and splenomegaly were also prevented. Moreover, abnormal T cell differentiation and maturation were suppressed. These observations suggest that IL-4 plays an important role in immunoregulation or pathogenesis of allogeneic effects, and 11B11 prevents immunodysfunction including T cell differentiation in the thymus or the spleen and autoimmune symptoms in murine BMT-GVHD.

[3H]Dopamine uptake in adrenal chromaffin cells of mice under acute immobilization stress: difference between dark and light period

[3H]Dopamine uptake under acute immobilization stress in adrenal chromaffin cells of mice was examined in vivo during dark (at 06.00 h) and light period (at 18.00 h). In the dark period, acute immobilization suppressed the uptake of [3H]dopamine in adrenal chromaffin cells, while in the light period, when steroid surge suppresses the uptake, it caused slight recovery of high-affinity uptake. Adrenal denervation prevented the suppression by immobilization in the dark period. Present results indicate that at 06.00 h, high-affinity uptake was inhibited by cortical steroids induced by immobilization while at 18.00 h, a larger amount of cortical steroid, steroid surge plus immobilization, caused an enhancement of the uptake. Sympathetic innervation is necessary to reveal the steroid effects.

Viability of partial liver graft from living donor in pigs

For evaluation of the viability of partial liver graft from a living donor, we investigated energy production of mitochondria and radical scavenging enzyme activities in partial and whole liver transplantation in pigs. The values of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and total adenine nucleotide (TAN) of the partial liver graft were higher than those of the whole liver graft, whereas the hypoxanthine of the partial liver graft was lower than that of the whole liver graft. There was no statistical difference in the radical scavenging enzyme activities between the two groups. The values of respiratory control ratio (RCR) in both groups were above 3.0 and there was no statistical difference. The survival rates of pigs received partial liver and whole liver graft with 2 to 3 hr cold preservation was 71% and 91%, respectively and there was no statistical difference between two groups. These results suggest that viabilities of the partial liver graft from the living donor are satisfactory enough, compared with those of whole liver graft from a cadaver.

Pretransplant intrathymic inoculation of donor antigen combined with FK506 treatment: prolongation of survival of cardiac, but not renal, allografts in rats

It has been shown that pretransplant intrathymic injection of donor antigen prolongs rat cardiac allograft survival. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether co-administration of FK506 could enhance the beneficial effect of intrathymic preimmunization; we also wished to clarify whether this combined treatment could be effective for renal allografts. Seven days prior to transplantation 5 x 10(7) donor splenocytes were injected into the thymus of LEW (RT1l) recipients of WKA (RT1u) cardiac or renal allografts. Using a miniosmotic pump, FK506 was administered for 7 days before transplantation at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day. Whereas intrathymic injection of donor splenocytes or subcutaneous FK506 alone showed limited (15.2 days) or no (7.3 days) prolongation of cardiac allograft survival, the combined treatment with these two modalities synergistically prolonged the survival of the cardiac allograft (> 82.0 days). This combined treatment, however, failed to prolong renal allograft survival (8.4 days). Although donor-specific prolongation of a second cardiac allograft was obtained in LEW rats with a well beating WKA heart, two of the three recipients ultimately rejected both first and second WKA cardiac allografts. Additionally, LEW rats with a long-surviving WKA heart rejected a WKA renal allograft in a normal fashion. These data demonstrate a synergistic effect of intrathymic injection of donor splenocytes and subcutaneous FK506 on cardiac, but not renal, allograft survival and suggest that quantitative or qualitative differences of immunogenicity of kidney may contribute to the rejection of renal allografts.

Effects of acetazolamide on the sleep apnea syndrome and its therapeutic mechanism

Twenty male patients with sleep apnea syndrome were treated with acetazolamide (AZM), a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. In 14 of the patient a significant decrease was found in the number of apnea, apnea index and % apnea time (percentage of time spent with apnea to the total sleep time) with improvement in sleep structure, clinical symptoms, such as insomnia, daytime excessive sleepiness and snoring. A significant decrease was also observed in arterial blood pH and HCO-3 in the 14 improved patients. On the other hand, no improvement occurred in the parameters of sleep apnea and sleep with AZM in the remaining six patients. Moreover, metabolic acidosis and an improvement in arterial blood gases did not occur with AZM in the six patients.

Involvement of inositol trisphosphate in cerebellar long-term depression

We examined the role of increases in Ca2+ from different sources in the induction of long-term depression (LTD) of glutamate or AMPA responsiveness in cultured Purkinje neurones. Photolysis of caged Ca2+ or caged inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) as well as depolarization was used to increase Ca2+ concentration. Heparin, contained in a patch pipette to block InsP3 binding to its receptor, prevented LTD induction by coupling of glutamate application and depolarization. Although pairing of depolarization and AMPA application did not induce LTD, photolysis of caged InsP3 in conjunction with depolarization and AMPA application induced LTD. The results suggest that not only Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca channels but also InsP3-induced Ca2+ mobilization are involved in LTD induction.

Suppression of LTD in cultured Purkinje cells deficient in the glutamate receptor delta 2 subunit

Involvement of the glutamate receptor channel delta 2 subunit in cerebellar long-term depression (LTD) was studied in cultures prepared from wild-type and mutant mice deficient in the delta 2 subunit. LTD of the glutamate response was induced by pairing glutamate applications and depolarization of a Purkinje cell in wild-type culture. However, in cultured Purkinje cells prepared from mutant mice, the same conditioning failed to induce LTD. Immunocytological staining showed that mutant Purkinje cells develop and express calbindin (a marker protein for Purkinje cells) as do wild-type cells, but they express no delta 2 subunit protein. The results indicate that the glutamate receptor channel delta 2 subunit is involved in the postsynaptic down-regulation of glutamate sensitivity, presumably during cerebellar LTD.

Primary lung cancer SPECT imaging with pentavalent technetium-99m-DMSA

To assess the clinical role of 99mTc(V)-DMSA in primary lung cancers, SPECT imaging was performed on 31 patients with suspected lung cancer.

METHODS

Planar and SPECT images were obtained at 3 to 4 hr after intravenous injection of approximately 555 MBq 99mTc(V)-DMSA. Two uptake ratios (the maximum counts/pixel in the lesion to the average counts in normal tissue) were calculated.

RESULTS

Various types of primary lung cancers (adenocarcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, large-cell carcinoma and bronchial carcinoid tumor) were imaged by 99mTc(V)-DMSA SPECT. Approximately 90% of the lung carcinomas showed increased uptake and were clearly demonstrated by SPECT images. Four cases incidentally revealed osseous metastatic lesion. Three benign lesions did not show increased uptake. Three cases were false-negative and there were no false-positive cases for the primary lesions.

CONCLUSION

Technetium-99m(V)-DMSA SPECT images demonstrated approximately 90% of the primary lung cancers. Uptake ratios were higher in squamous-cell carcinomas than adenocarcinomas. Evaluation of mediastinal tumor extension and nodal metastatic lesion was very difficult by high blood-pool activity in the major cardiovascular structures due to slow blood-pool clearance. However, 99mTc(V)-DMSA SPECT imaging was very useful for detecting primary lung cancers and metastatic lesions to the osseous structures.

Novel after-loading interstitial photodynamic therapy of canine transmissible sarcoma with photofrin II and excimer dye laser

Novel after-loading interstitial photodynamic therapy was performed in a canine transmissible sarcoma (CTS) model, utilizing photofrin II and an excimer dye laser. First, photofrin II was injected intravenously at a dose of 5 mg/kg, then 48 h later, laser-proof plastic tubing was inserted into the CTS, followed by photoradiation of the tumor from the inside. The mean diameter of tumor necrosis rapidly increased in parallel with increase in total irradiation energy below 240 J/cm; the mean diameter of tumor necrosis was 20.7 mm at an energy of 120 J/cm, and 24.5 mm at 240 J/cm. Beyond 240 J/cm, the diameter gradually increased to 26 mm at 960 J/cm. As a side effect, cutaneous tissue showed a deep open ulcer at 240 J/cm, a shallow open ulcer at 180 J/cm, and a scar healing at 120 J/cm. The thermal effect of laser light is considered negligible below 480 J/cm.

Intracellular apoprotein B degradation is suppressed by decreased albumin concentration in Hep G2 cells

It is generally accepted that hepatic secretion of apoprotein (apo) B-containing lipoproteins is substantially increased in nephrosis. To elucidate the mechanisms for the oversecretion of apo B, we investigated the effect of a various concentration of albumin on apo B kinetics in the absence or presence of oleate in Hep G2 cells. Hep G2 cells were labeled with [3H]-leucine in leucine-free medium containing 0, 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5% BSA for 180 minutes, and the secreted radiolabeled apo B, apo A1 and albumin were isolated by immunoprecipitation and counted. The secretions of apo B and albumin were suppressed by BSA (bovine serum albumin) in a dose-dependent manner, but the secretion of apo A1 was not suppressed significantly. Oleate (0.4 mM) increased the rate of apo B secretion by 2.5-fold when oleate was bound to 1.5% BSA, but at higher concentrations of BSA (3.0 or 4.5%), apo B secretion was less responsive to oleate. A pulse-chase study indicated that early apo B degradation was significantly suppressed in cells incubated with lower concentrations of BSA (0 or 1.5% BSA), thereby rapidly stimulating apo B secretion. Oleate (0.4 mM) potently inhibited apo B degradation when oleate was bound to 1.5% BSA, whereas the inhibition was not observed when oleate was bound to 4.5% BSA. Intracellular albumin synthesis was stimulated in BSA-free medium, but intracellular decay of albumin was essentially unaffected by concentration of BSA. Similar to BSA, a higher concentration of dextran (3.0 or 4.5%) reduced apo B secretion, and this was the result of increased early apo B degradation in the cells. These results indicate that reduced albumin suppresses intracellular apo B degradation, and the inhibition of apo B degradation by oleate is manifested only at a low concentration of albumin. Therefore, the present study suggests that free fatty acids bound to low concentration of albumin in the circulating plasma play an important role on hepatic oversecretion of apo B-containing lipoprotein in hypoalbuminemic state, such as nephrotic syndrome.

[Prostate specific antigen (PSA)/gamma-seminoprotein ratio in the cases with PSA levels less than or equal to 10.0 ng/ml]

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and gamma-seminoprotein (gamma-Sm) have been revealed to be the same protein and used as tumor markers for prostate cancer (CaP). However, it seems impossible to detect prostate cancer in the cases with PSA levels of 10.0 ng/ml or less. We now report on PSA/gamma-Sm ratio in the cases with PSA levels of 10.0 ng/ml or less, and on the relation between PSA and gamma-Sm in those cases. Serum samples were obtained from the patients with no cancer (NC) (n = 118) and CaP (n = 39). In the cases with PSA ranging from 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml, gamma-Sm levels in the patient with CaP were significantly lower than in those with NC (3.744 +/- 2.481 (mean +/- SD, n = 27) VS. 7.573 +/- 4.182 (n = 41), p < 0.0001) though PSA levels in both groups were not significantly different, and consequently, PSA/gamma-Sm ratio in the patients with CaP were significantly higher than in those with NC (2.181 +/- 0.802 VS. 1.095 +/- 0.804, p < 0.0001). In the cases with PSA levels of 4.0 ng/ml or less, gamma-Sm levels in the patient with CaP were significantly lower than in those with NC (1.600 +/- 0.705 (n = 12) VS. 3.243 +/- 2.456 (n = 77), p = 0.0064), while PSA levels in the patients with CaP were not significantly different from those in the patients with NC, and consequently, PSA/gamma-Sm ratio in the patients with CaP were significantly higher than in those with NC (1.762 +/- 0.544 VS. 0.808 +/- 0.330, p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of the thigmotaxis in Paramecium caudatum

Induction of thigmotaxis in Paramecium caudatum was examined. We succeeded in the induction by changing the ionic concentration and the Ja-value ([K+]/[Ca2+]1/2) of the surrounding medium. P. caudatum showed thigmotaxis stably in the solution containing a relatively high ionic concentration but a lower Ja-value. We found that the Paramecium cell touched the object with the tip of its oral groove and the cilia touching the object scarcely beat when the organism showed thigmotaxis.